Thompson, Lee lead Warriors over Hornets 101-92

Thompson, Lee lead Warriors over Hornets 101-92

Warriors 101, Hornets 92Player of the game: Warriors rookie shooting guard Klay Thompson scored a game-high 27 points on 11-for-24 shooting and chipped in with five rebounds and five assists.
Key stretch: The Warriors began the fourth quarter up just three points, but went on a 17-7 run to take a 92-79 lead with less than six minutes remaining.Lees finish: Warriors forward David Lee started out against the Hornets by promptly missing his first seven shots, then proceeded to knock down nine of his next 12 attempts. Lee finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds.Tyler starts: Warriors rookie Jeremy Tyler got the first start of his career on Wednesday, and didnt do a bad job. Warriors coach Mark Jackson played Tyler in shorter bursts rather than keeping him on the court for long stretches.But Tyler still found time to score four points, grab four rebounds and block two shots in nine-plus first-half minutes. Tyler wound up playing 16 minutes.Currys status: The Warriors have still not determined how they will proceed with Stephen Curry and his injured right ankle.Curry, who last played on March 11 vs. the Los Angeles Clippers, has tweaked his ankle several times in the past two year, and the Warriors havent been able to figure out why.Warriors general manager Larry Riley said on Wednesday that the teams staff and medical team will huddle this weekend and discuss and analyze Currys situation.The Warriors said they will have an update on Curry after the meeting. If the Warriors decide to shut down Curry, which conventional wisdom says they will, hell finish the season averaging 14.7 points and 5.3 assists in 28 minutes per game. Curry has played just 26 games this season.Hickson to Portland: The Warriors were hoping that former Kings forward J.J. Hickson would clear waivers so they could sign him. But the Portland Trail Blazers wound up claiming Hickson off waivers. It is possible the Warriors will sign another big player to help on the frontline.

Bravo For Durant: No White House visit proves he has a set of principles

AP

Bravo For Durant: No White House visit proves he has a set of principles

Bravo for Durant. For speaking up when so many others are silent and, by acknowledging that this is an individual decision, proving he is willing to stand on a personal set of principles.

Visiting his hometown of Seat Pleasant, Md. for “Kevin Durant Day,” the forward didn’t mention President Donald Trump by name but made clear his disdain for the man who currently occupies the White House.

"I don't agree with what he agrees with, so my voice is going to be heard by not doing that," Durant said. "That's just me personally, but if I know my guys well enough, they'll all agree with me."

Durant is not the first Warrior to publicly express such sentiments. Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston have specifically said they would not be willing to make the visit that has become customary for American championship teams. Coach Steve Kerr and veteran forward David West have been vocal in denouncing Trump’s discriminatory rhetoric and boorish behavior.

Uncertain whether an invitation is forthcoming, the Warriors issued a statement in June saying any collective decision regarding a White House visit would be made “when and if necessary.”

Their championship season ended two months ago. Training camp for next season begins next month. There has been no invitation.

Durant’s comments Thursday represent his first that directly address the possibility of visiting the White House. The Warriors, after their 2105 championship, made the visit when Barack Obama was president.

"I just wanted to sit back and analyze everything and gather my thoughts," he told ESPN. "I wanted to say something immediately, but I definitely want to be the voice of where I come from and people who have come from my neighborhood and deal with oppression.”

Addressing the division that has infected the national landscape, Durant pointed directly at Trump.

"He's definitely driving it," Durant said. "I feel ever since he's got into office, or since he ran for the presidency, our country has been so divided and it's not a coincidence. When Obama was in office, things were looking up. We had so much hope in our communities where I come from because we had a black president, and that was a first.

"So, to see that, and to be where we are now, it just felt like we took a turn for the worse, man. It all comes from who is in the administration. It comes from the top -- leadership trickles down to the rest of us. So, you know, if we have someone in office that doesn't care about all people, then we won't go anywhere as a country. In my opinion, until we get him out of here, we won't see any progress."

Though not all Warriors have publicly commented on the subject, Durant’s hunch is accurate. This team has a collective conscience. There are causes in which every member believes, and two such causes are equality and inclusiveness.

Those alone are enough to ensure they would not splinter on this issue.

"I don't agree with what he agrees with, so my voice is going to be heard by not doing that. That's just me personally, but if I know my guys well enough, they'll all agree with me."

The Warriors are scheduled to play the Wizards in Washington D.C. on Feb. 28 (which happens to be the same date of last season's game in D.C. when Durant injured his knee).

On Monday, Steve Kerr provided an update.

"We have talked as an organization about a potential White House invitation and what that would mean," he told Damon Bruce of 95.7 The Game. "A couple weeks ago we decided let's get the players together and talk about it later this summer when we can -- just before Media Day probably.

"And we'll do that, and I'll just leave it at that."

Durant -- who is from Maryland -- was in his hometown of Seat Pleasant on Thursday to celebrate "Kevin Durant Day."

He didn't hold back when discussing Donald Trump.

"I feel ever since he's got into office, or since he ran for the presidency, our country has been so divided and it's not a coincidence. When Obama was in office, things were looking up. We had so much hope in our communities where I come from because we had a black President, and that was a first.

"So, to see that, and to be where we are now, it just felt like we took a turn for the worse, man. It all comes from who is in the administration. It comes from the top -- leadership trickles down to the rest of us.

"So, you know, if we have someone in office that doesn't care about all people, then we won't go anywhere as a country. In my opinion, until we get him out of here, we won't see any progress."

Drew Shiller is the co-host of Warriors Outsiders and a Web Producer at NBC Sports Bay Area. Follow him on Twitter @DrewShiller